New Car Collection Checklist (Version 4 – 2025)

Whilst Tesla are now very good with the build quality of new cars, some small niggles can slip through the net. The Tesla warranty will cover any problems, but any potential issues are far easier to get sorted (such as minor paint defects) BEFORE you leave the Tesla delivery location or go past the first 100 miles of use. This list of things to check will (hopefully) speed up that process and ensure you’ve not missed anything so you can get on with enjoying your fabulous new car.

Before you get your Tesla you should:

1. Watch the walkthrough videos on the support section of Tesla.com – These are great at getting you started with the basics and will speed up your handover process. Don’t ignore any emails they send you with pre-delivery information! Tesla now has a useful “Meet your Tesla” video page for the Model 3 and Model Y. 
2. Review the information supplied on the Tesla Support pages, these go over details on Finance, Trade-In, Registration, Insurance, Warranty and loads more. It’s also worth checking these pages before asking questions on the owners only Facebook group.
3. Get a 7kW Home Charger installed if possible – and to make life easier, go for one with a tethered type 2 cable as this saves you having to use the cable in your car every time you charge at home (Tesla Info) – Tesla has a list of certified installers but check our Supplier Directory or search the Facebook group if you’re unsure.
4. Read the manual or at least download a digital copy / save the link to your phone etc for when you need it / have five minutes to read it. Having this searchable and in a location that you can quickly access is really useful (it’s also within the car screen as well remember). 
5. Tesla does not supply any spare tyre or pump so well worth getting a decent tyre pump (especially as you have no need to go to a petrol station any more and you will need to top up your tyre pressures every so often). Many drivers also like to have a tyre repair kit.
6. Insurance is often a hot topic for all new car owners looking to get a good price. See our guide for more details.
7. Join the discussion on Facebook or Twitter
8. Buy some club merchandise and have it ready for collection day! Some items may be limited to members – so don’t hesitate to sign up once you get your Tesla VIN. 
9. Consider swapping your home electricity to a 100% renewable tariff and review some of the EV specific tariffs which can save you a lot of money of you can charge overnight at home.

Things to check on collection day

If there is a problem note them down and photograph them, make yourself known to the staff on-site and/or create a service request with photographs and descriptions of any problems ASAP (ideally within 100 miles of collection).

1. Examine the paint and lights – A simple walkaround looking at every painted, plastic or glass panel, and the lights
   • You’re primarily looking for scratches, scrapes, dings, chips, glue, swirl marks (from improper cleaning), dents or polish residue on the external surfaces of the car
   • NOTE: Paint from current Shanghai and Berlin cars is now much better than it was from the earlier California built cars but can still occasionally be a problem with poor preparation and accidental stretches  between manufacture and delivery deign the transportation process. 
   • Ensure you double-check the paintwork in these areas:
     • Door sills (open each door)
     • Boot lip area (open the boot)
     • Frunk lip area (open the front boot)
     • Bottom edges of the car (not normally visible unless you duck down)
     • The front and back bumper edges/sides
     • Wheels and whilst you’re there the wheel wells (the area where the wheels sit, there is noise dampener material here as well so check all of that looks decent and secure)
   • Lights – Check for condensation or marks, check they’re aligned with the bodywork as well
   • Glass roof and windshield – Check for raised plastic/rubber around the edge and that the glass is free from any imperfections
   • [Unlikely to be an issue and you may end up with dirty knees] – the undercarriage of the car, look for scuffs, marks, missing plastic/screws etc
2. Check exterior panel alignment to ensure the gaps around the panels/glass etc are equal and no single panel protrudes excessively from the other, check the following:
   • Dechromed areas
   • Frunk
   • Trunk
   • Doors
3. Open and close the following ensuring they function as intended without noise/squeaks/rattles and no rubber seal is lose etc
   • All the doors
   • The charge port
   • The windows
   • The centre console between the front seats
   • The glovebox (some new Model Y car can be a bit stiff)
4. Examine interior for marks, scratches, blemishes etc:
   • The seats & the roof headliner should be clean and free from defects or marks
   • Check the screen and centre console
   • Check the steering wheel including the back (where you grip)
5. Double-check the functionality of the
   • Seats (adjustments etc)
   • Sound system [very uncommon] – Play some music in the car to just check everything sounds fine, consider moving the fader around to each corner of the car to check all speakers are working
   • Wireless phone chargers
   • Lights
6. Check delivery mileage, should be around 10-30 miles. The industry standard is between 10-50.
7. Check you have the following accessories
   • The correct cables
     • Type 2 Blue or Black Cable (often branded Mennekes)
     • (if you ordered it) A Mobile Connector (with a 3 pin standard plug on it) normally in a black bag with ‘Tesla’ written on it. If you forgot to order one, these are easily purchased via the Tesla app or slightly cheaper ones can be found from many suppliers (but they don’t benefit from having the Tesla port button)
   • The USB stick in the glovebox
   • Car mats 
   • Emergency kit (Warning Triangle / First Aid Kit etc)
8. Check you’ve snapped a photo of it looking all clean and pristine and tag @TeslaOwnersUK on X, Instagram or Facebook with your photos so we can reshare them!